Spinal Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical:

Performs a highly advanced musculoskeletal assessment of patients in the Spinal Triage service. Assessment involves excluding serious pathology and need for immediate surgery. Highly complex presentations require formulation of immediate explanation, likely diagnosis and treatment plan which is carried out as an autonomous practitioner. This may include referral for investigations, interventional procedures and listing for surgery.

With support from service lead and spinal fellow, triage and evaluate spinal red flags and differentially diagnose serious and non-serious pathology on the emergency spinal assessment unit ST3.

To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical fact, which may be conflicting to provide expert advice and second opinion to patients, medical colleagues and other health professionals. This includes the formulation of accurate prognoses, recommendation of best course of intervention and development of comprehensive discharge plans.

To provide specialist advice to medical colleagues and other health professionals. This includes formulation of accurate prognoses, recommendation of best course of intervention, and development of comprehensive discharge plans.

To request and use the results of specialist investigations (e.g. X-rays, blood tests, MRI scans and NCS) to assist the formulation of diagnoses and plan patient management with support from service leads and Spinal Consultants.

To maintain and develop high standards of patient care and facilitate and implement evidence based practice by ensuring implementation of standards set in CSP, CSAG, NICE, and Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance guidelines.

To develop advanced theoretical and practical knowledge to refer onto other departments/medical colleagues within or outside the Trust as necessary based on investigation results and expert clinical assessment.

To provide written reports of clinical opinion to medical colleagues as required.

To advise patients, employers and occupational health departments on the appropriate time to return to work, sports and other activities.

To co-ordinate patient management which may include advising patients, carers, relatives, other health professionals and medical colleagues.

To be aware of the boundaries of own extended practice, and to manage the associated clinical risk effectively at all times.

Communication:

To demonstrate an ability to communicate highly complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff, where there may be barriers to communication or may include information about long-term / permanent disabilities or chronic pain. This must be done whilst ensuring confidentiality at all times.

To clearly convey highly complex knowledge of techniques, biomechanics, anatomy and physiology to patients and staff, where evidence underpinning practice may be conflicting and ensuring sensitivity to the audiences level of understanding and prior knowledge.

To be able to motivate and persuade others (including staff and patients ) through advanced communication skills, with the benefit of verbal, non-verbal skills, using written and electronic information.

To facilitate patients attitudinal change towards their condition thus encouraging health/function promoting behaviour.

To articulate effectively the specialist physiotherapeutic perspective on a patients condition with medical colleagues and members of the multidisciplinary team, and negotiate when various patient management options are available.

To diffuse potentially hostile and antagonistic situations with staff, patients and relatives, using highly developed negotiation and interpersonal skills.

Service Development:

To assist development of policy, protocol and procedure for best pathway of patient care within the ESP spinal service. Eg pathways for the management of red flag disorders.

To adhere and assist in the implementation of national and local guidelines for best practice.

Take an active role in the relevant special interest groups (SIGs) nationally (e.g. Extended Scope Physiotherapy Network (ESPN), Physiotherapy Pain Association), and incorporate their priorities into local practice as appropriate.

Education:

Devise and deliver training to assist the development of peers, medical colleagues and other health professionals within the spinal service, across the trust and outside the organisation.

To use the Trust appraisal system and individual CPD portfolio to guide this development

Research and Development:

To actively participate in research activity within the spinal ESP service.

To present service development/research regularly at local and occasionally national level.

To disseminate the results of research/audit/expert practice to influence evidence based practice.

Lead and assist in audit/evaluation within the Spinal Triage service

To promote evidence based practice through the critical appraisal of current literature, dissemination of information, participation in appropriate courses and conferences.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Hons in Physiotherapy, or equivalent.
• Proven competency and postgraduate training on the referral to & interpreting of x-rays (IRMER) / MRI's / Blood tests
• Evidence of maintaining professional competence through CPD.

Desirable

• MSc or equivalent in relevant field
• Non medical prescriber
• Injection Therapy

Experience

Essential

• Significant post graduate experience, including a wide variety of rotations and experiences at Band 6 in orthopedic specialty.
• Experience in evaluation of practice.
• Experience of audit and EBP implementation.
• Awareness legislation relating to health and safety, litigation and Data protection.

Desirable

• Band 7 experience in spinal outpatient field.
• Experience of involvement in research

Communication and relationship

Essential

• To act as patient advocate.
• Participation and leading /organizing in-service training programs.
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with the multidisciplinary team. Ability to lead the team where appropriate.
• Able to communication complex condition related information to patients, relatives/carers and other clinical/social care staff where there may be barriers to understanding e.g. language barriers, speech, cognitive problems

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts

Address

QMC

Nottingham

NG7 2UH

Employer's website

https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)